Fluid head indicator for enema administration set



Aug. 26, 1969 R. A. GANDI 3,463,153

FLUID HEAD INDICATOR FOR ENEMA ADMINISTRATION SET Filed May 17, 1967 [I1500 c r- TT /0/ T I in Z4 5 1:1 -2

A I P" 3 INVENTOR BY A, wufa mfla ATTORNEYS United States Patent M3,463,153 FLUID HEAD INDICATOR FOR ENEMA ADMINISTRATION SET Robert A.Gandi, New York, N.Y., assignor to Dickinson Becton and Company, EastRutherford, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 17, 1967, Ser.No. 639,170 Int. Cl. A61m 3/00; 367d 5/38 US. Cl. 128-227 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus in the form of a container forholding a quantity of cleansing enema fluid and an elongated tube at thecontainer fluid outlet. Indicia markings indicating volumetric capacityof the container disposed on both the container and tube being separatedby a set distance which allows maintenance of the fluid head at theprescribed elevated distance from the injection site prior to and duringthe enema administration.

Background of the invention Enema administration sets have been used andare presently well-known in the medical field. These particularadministration sets have gained acceptance in the industry but, untilthe present invention, have all suffered from one main disadvantage.Namely, there is no way, other than by estimating, to maintain aconstant hydraulic head during the administration of a cleansing enemawith present day administration sets. By failure to maintain a constantand prescribed fluid head during fluid administration the head maybecome excessively high, causing a fast flow rate which is oftendetrimental to the patient. In a similar vein detriment to the patientmay be caused by an excessively low fluid head and consequently a slowflow rate. The latter may excessively prolong the administration due tothe inability to administer the fluid within a reasonable time.

Summary of the invention In accordance with the foregoing discussion thepresent invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages which are found toexist in present day enema administration sets. In a broad sense theinvention is directed to an apparatus for the controlled administrationof a cleansing fluid enema. The apparatus generally includes atranslucent container structure defining an internal chamber. Thecontainer is provided with an inlet port near one end and incommunication with the chamber so that the cleansing fluid may beintroduced therein. At a point removed from the inlet port the containercarries fixedly attached thereto an elongated flexible tube throughwhich the cleansing fluid passes thereby to be introduced to thepatient. Both the container and the tube carry a plurality of volumetricmarkings which are respectively spaced from one another by apredetermined physical distance defining an indicator. Thus, both priorto and during administration of the cleansing fluid the prescribedhydraulic fluid head elevation is maintained at a relatively constantdistance from the patient.

In accordance with the foregoing discussion it is a principal object ofthe present invention to provide, on an enema administration set fluidindicator indicia whereby the fluid head may be maintained at aprescribed distance from the injection site to maintain the hydraulichead relatively constant.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art as the following description, readin conjunction with the appended drawing, is developed.

3,463,153 Patented Aug. 26, 1969 ice Brief description of the drawingThe accompanying drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. By this drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the enema administration set providedwith inidicia markings by which a reasonably constant hydraulic head maybe maintained during the administration of a cleansing enema; and

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of an enema administration setoriented in an operative administration position.

Brief description of the preferred embodiment In the figures the enemaadministration set is generally denoted by the numeral 10. The apparatusincludes a container 12 defining an internal chamber which is suppliedwith a cleansing fluid to be used in an enema administration and anelongated flexible discharge tube.

The container may be formed of any suitable material, as for example, arigid or flexible plastic or glass, or its equivalent which ispreferably translucent or transparent so that the head level of thecleansing fluid is readily discernible from the exterior.

An inlet port 14 is formed in the upper body portion of the container12. Port 14 is suitably in fluid communication with the internalchamber. A ring 16, preferably formed from a metallic material or rigidplastic, is provided within the opening to define its periphery. Thus,if the container is formed from a plastic which is flexible in naturethe opening may be conveniently sealed. As shown in FIG. 2 a plug 18 isseated in the inlet opening. The plug, due to the provision of ring 16,is frictionally received and supported within the opening once thechamber has been filled to the prescribed volumetric level with acleansing fluid.

A hanger 20, by which the container 12 may be gripped and elevatedduring the administration of a cleansing enema, as discussed above, isprovided adjacent the opening 16. Thus, the administration set may bephysically hand grasped during use, as shown by the representation of ahand holding hanger 20 in FIG. 2. Additionally, although not shown inthe figures the container may be automatically elevated duringadministration.

The enema administration set also includes a flexible elongateddischarge tube 22 which is connected at the lower portion of thecontainer 12. The tube provides fluid communication between the tubedistal end 23 and the internal chamber in which the enema fluid isdisposed. The tube distal end is relatively inflexible for ease inintroduction into a body opening.

The tubing may be formed of a plastic material, as above, and while thismaterial may be translucent or transparent this consideration is not ofextreme importance.

As shown in FIG. 1 the tubing 22 is connected adjacent the lower portionof container 12 and is preferably located so that the entire amount ofcleansing fluid Within the chamber may be dispensed.

Referring now to FIG. 1 it is apparent that the container 12 and thedischarge tube 22 is provided with a plurality of indicia markings, onlyone of which is denoted by the numeral 24. These markings are providedon the structure to both indicate a volumetric capacity and also toprovide means by which the fluid head may be located at a predeteminedelevation above the injection site. Thus, as noted by the dimension 26the 1500 cc. level on the container 12 and the 1500 cc. line on thedischarge tube 22 is separated by a distance equal to approximately 18".This distance has been decided upon since clinical observation hasindicated that the fluid head, of the introduction of a cleansing enemato a normal patient, should be located above the injection site by adistance equal to approximately 18"-20". Thus, for each volumetricindicia marking on the container 12 there is a corresponding marking onthe discharge tube 22 and each of the respective markings are separatedby the distance, which has been indicated above as 18".

The device is rather easy to operate and the operation is readily seenfrom FIG. 2. Therefore, the container is initially filled with acleansing fluid enema to the level 28 and the container is sealed bymeans of plug 18. The distal end of the discharge tube is inserted intothe body cavity and for each volumetric filling the correspondingindicia marking on the tube 22 is located in the horizontal plane of thebody opening. This orientation of the enema administration set isindicated by the dimensional arrow 30.

As seen in FIG. 2 the enema administration set is gripped by both hands,one hand holding the distal end of the discharge tube in position withinthe body opening as the other hand grips the hanger portion 20.

As the cleansing fluid drains from the container 12 into the patient andcorrespondingly the fluid head falls from, for example, the 1500 cc.line to the 1000 cc. line, the container should be elevated so that the1000 cc. indicating line on the discharge tube now lies in thehorizontal plane of the body opening. FIG. 2 shows that this elevatingprocedure may be carried out manually. As discussed, the elevatingprocedure may otherwise be carried out by automatic means whichcontinually functions to raise the container 12 as the liquid drainsfrom its internal chamber so that the fluid head within the container isalways elevated from the body opening by the preferred distance of1820".

Having now described the invention I claim:

1. An apparatus for the controlled administration to the human body of acleansing fluid enema comprising a translucent container having aninternal chamber and an inlet port communicating therewith, said portbeing located near one end of the container and adapted to receive aprescribed amount of said cleansing fluid, an elongated flexibledischarge tube having a bore in fluid communication with the chamber,said tube being connected to said container other end in a position sothat said prescribed amount of cleansing fluid may drain therethrough,said tube distal end adapted to be introduced into a body opening, and aplurality of first indicia markings on said container representative offluid volume, a second plurality of like markings on said dischargetube, each marking of said first plurality being functionally related toand equidistantly spaced from a similar marking in said second pluralitythereby to define an indicator whereby the volumetric quantity of saidcleansing fluid may be constantly monitored during administration andthe falling fluid head maintained at a predetermined elevation abovesaid body opening causing the fluid discharge to be relatively constant.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said container is flexible andprovided with a hanger for gripping and elevating the same duringadministration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a closure means, said means beingreceived in said inlet port to close said chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said discharge tube distal end isrelatively inflexible for ease in introduction to said body opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,090,273 8/1937 Wagner 128-214XR 2,619,086 1l/l952 Wylde 128-227 3,100,487 8/1963 Bathish 128-2273,163,164 12/ 1964 Waldman 128-227 3,239,096 3/1966 Buono et a1 128-227XR FOREIGN PATENTS 6,424 1892 Great Britain. 975,012 11/ 1964 GreatBritain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner RONALD L. FRINKS, Assistant ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R. 128-239; 222-158

